And frank sohefold



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. NORTNEY & P. SGHEFOLD. ELECTRIC LAMP SUPPORT.

TI THU l'nwnia wr UNIE STATES-PATENT ()Fmcn.

JAMES NQRTNEY, OF

NEW ALBANY, INDIANA, AND FRANK SOHEFOLD, OF PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SUPPORT.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,391, dated January 8,1 895. Application filed October 18, 1892. Renewed December 1 1394: Serial No. 53l| (N modem To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that we, JAMEs NORTNEY, of New Albany, county of Floyd, and State of Indiana, and FRANK SCHEFOLD, of Parker'sburg, county of Wood, and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Lamp Supports, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawlngs. p

The object of our invention is to producea support for electric lamps, that is especially for the heavy kinds, which are used for are light currents; which is readily attachable and detachable; and which automatically switches the current through the lamp, or

- around it as the lamp'is connected or disconnected from the support.

Heretofore, owing to the Want of an electric switch, except such as require special manipulation, the trimming and repairing of arc lamps have been usually performed when the current is on. By the use of our invention the lamp may be attended to at any time, day

:or night, whether the current is on or off withlar view of the detachable parts showing one of the hooks partly in cross section. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the switch support, sho wing the switch in position for passing the current around the lamp. Fig. 6 is aside view, partly in cross section of one of the hooks in the upright or locked position. Fig.7 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 5, showing the frame for the support in cross section, and the switch as in position for passing current through the lamp. Fig. 8 is a View similar to that shown in Fig. 6, showing the 'hook in the open, unlocked, or tilted position.

Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates a fixed or stationary frame that is hung from any suitable support, and. is

adapted to carry a lamp in the elevated position for use.

2 indicates a lamp, and 3 its top plate.

4 indicates ropes or lines fastened to the top-plate '3, and adapted to raise or lower the lamp,'pulleys 5 and 6 being provided for convenience.

The parts just described are of the ordinary and usual kind.

7 indicates a plate of electrical conducting material, such for instance as copper, which is securely fastened to the non-conducting bottom of the frame. Upon top of theplate 7 is fastened, by means of screws for instance, a fixed support 8, which is provided with a wrist 9, and preferably on the outer side with a binding post 10. This support should always be a good conductor. Near the opposite end of the plate 7 we provide perforations 11, 12, 13, which preferably have their sides covered with suitable insulating -material. Where the bottom of the frame 1 is made of wood, as in practice it usually is, a special and additional insulation maybe dispensed with. I

14 indicates a movable support, or switch support we will call it, which is in all respects. identical with the fixed support8, but is provided with a stud 15 which projects from itsbase, and in length is preferably nearly double the width of the arm of the frame 1. It is provided with a head 16 which affords a bearing for the spring 17 that is seated at itslower pressure we provide suitable stop pieces 18,

which may be conveniently made of screws passed through suitable holes in the base of the switch support and screwed into the'bottom of the frame 1, being passed through the ho1es'12 and 13 in the plate 7.

19 indicates a binding-post,'similar to the one carried on the fixed support.

To the plate 3 of the lamp are firmly fixed, by screws or other suitable means, hook frames 20, substantially alike in all respects, and are in practice set at such distance apart as when brought into juxtaposition with the frame 1, to be opposite the fixed support on the bottom thereof. Each one of the hook supports is provided with parallel plates 21, which have corresponding vertical slots 22 adapted to receive pins 23' upon opposite sides of each of the hooks 24, so as to allow-the hooks, under certain conditions, to oscillate freely, and to be susceptible of a certain vertical motion. Beneath each of the hook supports,- in suitable bearings, we'provide a sliding plate 26, having an aperture 27 adapted to receive a pin 28 projecting from the bottom of the hook.

29 indicates a plate at right angles to the sliding plate, preferably made by bending or casting the sliding plate in that shape, which serves as a bearing at one end fora spring 30, which is seated at its opposite end against the side of the top of the lamp, a recess 31 being provided therein for the reception of the spring, as illustrated.

32 indicates a thumb-piece for shoving the sliding plate in opposition to the resistance of the spring. It will appear from an inspection of the drawings that the tendency of the spring is to operate the sliding plate in such a position as to keep the aperture 27 covered by the base of the hook-support. So long as the sliding plate remains in this position, the

hook is free to turn upon its pivot, and having its pivot pins, in practice, set forward of its medial line its tendency, When unrestrained, is to fall backward, as illustrated in Fig. 8. If, however, the sliding plate is pushed forward until the aperture 27 is brought underneath the medial vertical plane of the slots 2%, and in line with a pocket 33 provided in the top of the lamp and the hook carried in the elevated position and depressed,

the pin 28 on the bottom of the hook will enter the aperture, restrain the backward movement of the sliding plate, and the hook will be locked in the upright position. The only force which can release the hook is a vertical pull upon it, which will lift its pivot pins in the slots 22, free the pin 28 from the sliding. plate, and allow it to oscillate freely thereon, as before described.

34. indicates a curved guide piece secured in front of each of the hooks, as for example by a bolt 35 in the hook support.

In practice the operation of our device is as follows: Suppose a lamp to be in position, as shown. in Fig. 2, and a current to be passing from the wires through the binding posts 10 and 19, the fixed support and switch supports, and the hooks into the lamp to light it. If now it is desired to gain access to the lamp for any purpose, the operator will pull upon the line 4 and draw the lamp up toward the fixed frame 1. Thereupon, as above exfall backward, as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and leave the lamp ready to be let down. Simultaneously with the elevation of the lamp, the spring 17 will operate to elevate the switch support and bring it in contact with the plate 7; whereupon, without any interruption the electrical circuit will be established through the said plate. When the operator wishes .to reset the lamp in position he pushes the sliding plates 26 in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings and lifts the hooks until the pins 28 enter the aperture 27 in the sliding plate, and the parts are set in the fixed position, as above described. Then by pulling upon the line 4 the lamp is elevated until the hooks are broughtopposite the supports,- when the wrists 9 thereon, pressing between the curved guide piece and the ends of the hooks, will tilt the hooks slightly against the resistance of the spring 30, and allow them to hook over the wrists. Thereupon, tension upon the line being relieved, the weight of the lamp will operate to lift the hooks vertically and separate them from the plained, the hooks, under their own weight,

sliding plates, leaving the lam-p to swing freely, I

and ready to operate, as above described in the first instance. At the same time the weight of the lamp will depress the switch support in opposition to the force of the spring 17, separate it from the plate 7, and re-establish a circuit through the lamp.

We do not confine ourselves to the details of construction herein illustrated and described, because they may be in many ways varied without departing from the scope of our invention.

What we claim is 1. The combination with a lamp adapted to be hung to a support provided with suitable sustaining pieces, of pivoted hooks upon the lamp adapted normally to tilt open when released from the sustaining pieces, substan tially as specified.

2. The combination with a lamp, of hooks pivotally secured thereto, and locking mechanism for temporarily'holding the hook in a fixed position, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with alamp, of aloosely pivoted hook thereon, a curved guide piece and yielding locking mechanism for holding the end of the hook against the guide piece,

set forth.

6. In supporting mechanism, the combination of a fixed plate and a supporter thereon, of a movable plate and hook thereon pivotally carried in vertical slots, of yielding looking mechanism adapted to hold the hook while in the lower parts of the slots, whereby the hook may beelevatedagainst the supporter and snapped upon it and be released from the locking mechanism by the weight of the movable part upon the hook, substantially as set forth.

7. In an electric lamp support, the combination with the fixed part carrying a fixed support and a movable support adapted by its movement to make and break circuit with the fixed support, of a lamp provided with a pair of vertically movable pivoted hooks electrically connected with the lamp to operate it,

yielding locking mechanism for retaining the hooks temporarily in a fixed position, guide pieces in front of the hooks to latch the hooks upon the supports when pressed against them, all substantially as and for the purpose speci- In testimony of all which wehave hereunto subscribed our names.

JAMES NORTNEY. FRANK SCHEFOLD, Witnesses:

M. D. CONDIFF, M. L. FREDERICK. 

